Salvage apparatus



June 6, 1933 G. BONTEMPI 1,912,428

SALVAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR G.BONTEMPI June 6, 1933.

SALVAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m, #.mm M MU ML;nl||- imm/# QMN o j M fw M M m l ATTORNEY June 6, 1933.

G. BONTEMPI SALVAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 j?INVENTOR 6921.50 fe fem/u' ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 3, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4lNvENToR l @use/of@ a/zz zzz/n.

June 6, 1933. G. BONTEMPI 1,912,428

sALvAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3; 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR ATTORNEYPatented June 6, 1933 UTE STATES LSIZAZS GIUSEPE BONTEMPI, OF GRANTVOGD,NEW JEl'-EY SALVAGE APPARATUS Application led February 3, 1332. SerialNo. 590,595.

rlhe present invention relates to improve ments in apparatus for raisingsunken vessels, and more particular of the type which includes a salvageunit of the submergible 5 type which is provided With means to grip tievessel to be raised, and which is capable of being made buoyant.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved salvageapparatus of the character mentioned, including means to control, andwhen necessary or desirable to h'x the submergible unit at any depth ofsubniersion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a salvage apparatus ofthe character described, including means to Control the speed of thesubmergible unit in its motion either while submerging or emerging.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a salvage systemof the class aforesaid, whereby the submergible unit will set correctlyand with certainty over the vessel to be raised, Without the necessityof maneuvering the said unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel salvage apparatusof the character described, including` a definite traolr to pre-arrangeand provide for the line of motion of the submergible unit.

30 A further object of this invention is to provide a novel salvageapparatus, including an easily maneuverable means for establishingpreliminary contact with the object y to be salvaged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a salvageapparatus and system which is adaptable for use with any of the class ofsalvage units of the submergible A type, capable of being made buoyant,and

*j which when set onto the vessel to be raised,

the latter is between the gripping elements of said unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a salvage system ofthe character described, a means to determine from the surface ofthesea, the buoyancy requirements of the submerged unit.

Another object of the present invention x is to provide a salvage systemand apparatus of the. class mentioned, which permits marine salvageoperations to he conducted and completed Within a short interval oftime.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the class herein concerned,with means to tilt the submerged unit to set with po- 'f5 sitivenessonto the vessel to be salvaged.

A further object of the present invention is to proviee a salvageapparatus of the class mentioned which can be controlled eitherrfrom thesurface of the sea, or from a chamber secured to the submergible unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a marine salvageapparatus and system of the character mentioned, which is simple incoi-istruction, easy and dependable in operation, and the cost of whichis reasonable in view or" its Capability, efficiency, its usefulness andadaptability.

To attain these objects, in a preferred embodiment of my presentinvention, I pro-""5D vide a salvage system comprising a salvage unit ofthe submergible type, capable of being made buoyant and includinggripping elements, and two spaced groups of pontoon elements betweenwhich is housed a preliminary non-buoyant gripping unit which is adaptedto be independently lowered onto the sunken vessel by cables unwoundfrom drums secured to the aforesaid salvage unit, which drums are drivenby a pneumatically S0 operated motor also secured to said salvage unit.Said preliminary gripping unit is slidable on said cables, at the endsof each of which, eneath said gripping unit are secured ballast oranchorage means.

Also, I provide an observation and control ehamber which is demountalolysecured to said salvage unit, as well as independent pontoon elementssecured at the ends of either chains or cables terminating in the 99salvage unit. v

This invention is capable` of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein disclosed. lt istherefore intended and de-v sired that the embodiment shown herein bedeemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall coverwhatever features of patentable novelty exist in the inventiondisclosed, reference being had to the appended claims rather than thespecific c escription herein to indicate the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application,similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Fig. 1 is a view showing a submergible unit with its front group ofpontoons removed, the preliminary gripping unit housed therein restingon the anchorage means or ballast secured at the ends of cables wound ondrums and the motor to actuate the latter, all afloat over the vessel tobe raised.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the submergible unit afloat, section throughits front group of pontoons, the preliminary gripping unit set andsecured on the vessel to be raised, and the anchorage means fixedresting on the bottom of the sea; the cables extending from the drumsand terminating in the ballast or anchorage means aforesaid.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the salvage unit also submerged setting overand gripping the vessel, and again housing the preliminary gripping unitbetween its spaced pontoon groups; the said salvage unit having beenpulled down to this position by winding the cables onto their respectivedrums. This view also shows the control chamber and buoyancy gauges.

Fig. 4 is a View showing the salvaged unit, the preliminary grippingunit housed therein, all ascending with the vessel securely gripped; theballast or anchorage means remaining secured to the sea bottoni, and thecables being unwound after the buoyancy of the salvage unit has beenincreased suicient to raise all but the ballast.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing only the cable winding andcontrol mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus showing thepreliminary gripping unit housed within the salvage unit between its twosections of pontoons (cable and control mechanism being removed).

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 6.

The respective positions of the several components of the system, in thesuccessive steps in a salvage operation with the apparatus, are shown inorder in Athe Figs. 1, 2, 3 and respectively.

In the practice of the present invention, I utilize a salvage unit ofthe submergible type, generally designated herein by the numeral 15,which is capable of being made buoyant by virtue of its pontoon members16, 17 and 1S, and which is provided with gripping elements 19, adaptedto secure between them the vessel 20 to be raised.

The salvage unit 15, illustrated herein, consists of two series ofpontoon sections 21, in spaced relation, composed of pontoon members 16,17 and 18, secured to an inverted U shaped framework 22, which whensubmerged, shall have the vessel 2O to be raised, between its downwardlyextending arms, each of which has pivotally secured thereto, in tandem,a pair of link arrangements, each forming a quadrilateral unit, havingfor an innermost member, a gripping element 19; the ends o f each suchgripping element 19, being pivotally secured respectively to the ends ofa pair of equal links 23 and 2-l; the other ends of the latter beingpivotally secured to an arm of the frame 22.

So that the opposite gripping elements 19, shall be capable of beingbrought independently towards each other to grip the Vessel 20, that isto gripping position, or else when required to open position, there isprovided for each gripping unit, an actuating mechanism therefor,consisting of a pneumatically operated piston 25, slidable within acylinder 2G, the latter being secured to the frame 22.

A coupling 27, secures the piston rod 28, to an endless link chain 29,which engages an idler sprocket 30, and a sprocket wheel 81; the latterbeing secured to the link 24, at the axis 32, and both sprocket wheelsaforesaid are pivotally mounted on the frame 22.

When compressed air is admitted into the cylinder 26, at one end, thegripper element 19 associated therewith will be brought towards itsopposite mate, and when the compressed air is fed into the cylinder atits other end, the said gripper element 19, will recede from itsopposite mate. Thus, simultaneous operation of opposite gripperactuating mechanisms, will bring the gripper elements 19 associatedtherewith either towards each other to gripping position, or else, willcause same to recede from each other to open position, as the case maybe.

The buoyancy of the pontoon members 16, 17 and 1S, are independentlycontrolled by compressed air through individual pipes 33, allterminating and independent in a control head 34, upon which isdemonntably secured a chamber 35, to house an operator for control andobservation purposes. Said control chamber 35, derives a compressed airsupply from auxiliary compressor apparatus on the surface (not shown),through a pipe line 36, a normal air supply for the operator, through apipe line 37, air to be exhausted, is diverted by the operator throughpipe line 38, and cables 39, serve for the lifting of the controlchamber 35, to insure the safety of the operator.

The aforementioned preliminar-y gripping unit, herein generallydesignated by the nu meral 40, is adapted to be housed within theframework 22, of the salvage unit l5, between the two pontoon sections21, and in slidable relation therewith. The construction of thispreliminary unit 40, is quite like that of the salvage unit 15, exceptthat it has no pontoon elements, and is provided with only one set ofgripping elements 41, which are actuated by like mechanism hereinabovedescribed as associated with the gripping elements 19. A compressed airsupply `pipe 42, connects to the cylinders 43 of the actuating mechanismof the griping elements 41, of theunit 40.

Slidably through sockets 44, in the frame 45, of the unit 40, pass thecables 46, the lower ends of each of which terminates and is secured tothe anchorage means or ballast members 47, and the upper ends of whichare wound respectively on the drums 48. The preliminary unit 40,therefore rests on the ballast members 4T. The drums 48, together withthe pneumatically operated reversible motor 49, which drives themthrough the system of gearing shown in Fig. 5, are secured to thesalvage unit 15. Swiveled guide pulleys 50, secured to the salvage unit15, are provided, one in each vertical line of run of the cables 46.

Clutches 51 are interposed in the transmission shafting, to permitindividual control of the respective drums 48. The clutch Shifters 52,and the supply system for the motor 49, are operable from within thecontrol chamber 35.

However, the control chamber may be dispensed with. In which instance,all piping will extend to the surface of the sea to control valvessituated on board ship. Also Athere need be no clutches for independentcontrol of the respective drums 48; being that both when directlyconnected will wind or unwind equal lengths of cable 46. Air compressorapparatus and control .valve systems being well known, a description ofthem is not essential and is therefore omitted. The ballast members 47are provided on their bottoms with a number of intersecting vanes 53, toprevent lateral movement once the ballast is set and engaged in theocean floor 54.

As a surface guide or gauge, to indicate the buoyancy requirements ofthe pontoon members 16, 17 and 18, there is provided a pair of pontoons55, controlled from the sur-Y face of the sea, which are secured tocables 56 terminating in eyelets 57 secured to the frame 22, of thesalvage unit 15. The length of these cables 56 is such that the pontoons55, will be fully submerged, yet very near the surface of the sea, whenthe salvage unit 15 has gripped the vessel 20, still resting on the seabottom 54.

In operation, the first step, illustrated in Fig. 1, is to have thepreliminary gripping unit 40, housed within the buoyant salvage unit 15,and resting on the ballast members 47; the cables 46, being fully woundon drums 48, and the gripping elements 19 and 41, being all in openposition. The entire apparatus is thus lloated to a position directlyabove the vessel 20, to be raised.

In the second step, illustrated in Fig. 2, the salvage unit 15, ismaintained in a bouyant condition, and the motor 49, is actuated tounwind the cables 46, from olf the drums 48, thereby lowering theballast members 47, with the preliminary unit 40, resting thereon. Thelatter is made to set onto the vessel 20, while the ballast members 47,are secured fast in the ocean floor 54. Then the gripping elements 41,which are on either side of the vessel 20, are shifted to close, and areso kept continuously by feeding compressed air through pipe line 42,into the cylinders 43, of the actuating means adapted to close saidgripping elements 41. As soon as the ballast members 47 have reached theocean Hoor 54, the motor 49 is stopped. The preliminary unit aids toestablish and maintain the parallelism of the cables 46; thus providinga definite path for the salvage unit l5, and by virtue of its securityonto the vessel 20, insures that the salvage unit 15, when submerged,will set onto the vessel 20, inf the required position for effectivegripping, with certainty and exactness.

The third step in the operation, which is illustrated completed in Fig.3, is to attach to each eyelet 57, the respective ends of the cables 56,having the pontoons 55 secured at their other ends, then, to maintainthe salvage unit 15, appreciably bouyant, that is at a small fraction ofits full capacity. Now, the cables 46, are rewound Von the drums 48, byrunning the motor 49, slowly in reverse. The cables 46, will always betaut, because of the upward tendency of the salvage unit 15, yet thelatter will be dragged downward slowly, because of the connecting means,the cables 46, becoming shorter and shorter; the rate of motion of thesalvage unit l5, depending upon the speed of the motor 49. The salvageunit will thus submerge until it will set onto the vessel 20, againhousing the preliminary unit 40, between the pontoon sections 21, andits gripping elements 19, will have the vessel 20, between them. At thisstage, the motor 49, is stopped, the gripping elements 19, are broughttowards each other, in closed position, and continuously held so, as toclamp the ship 20 within their grip, by feeding compressed air into thecylinders 26, of the actuating means adapted to operate said grippingelements 19.

All this while, the pontoons 55 are kept buoyant at their minimum byforcing just enough Water out of them so that they barely float. Afterthe vessel 20 is tightly-within the grip of the salvage unit 15, thesepontoons `55 are made buoyant to their full capacity. Their utmosteffort is appreciable and is known to the operator on the surface of thesea.

Prior to the final step, which is the actual raising of the vessel 20,shown completed in Fig. 4, the cables 46, are a little released from thedrums 48, and the pontoon members 17, 18 and 19, of the salvage unit 15,are made more buoyant by feeding compressed air thereinto, to force outsome of the water contained in said members. As soon as the buoyancy ofthese pontoon members 17, 18 and 19, aided by the capacity of thepontoons 55, becomes sufficient and lifts the salvage unit 15, thevessel 20 which it holds in its grip, together with all secured thereto,the pontoonsv will rise to the surface and float, thus losing theirlifting value,

Aand when such happens, the operator on the surface will know exactlyhow much more the buoyancy of the salvage unit 15, need be increased tobe enabled to rise with its load. The buoyancy of the pontoons 55, arenow reduced a definite amount known to the Aoperator on the surface, andthen the buoyancy of the salvage unit 15, is increased until saidpontoons 55, again emerge and float. In this manner, the buoyancyrequirements of the salvage unit 15, is always fairly known and gauged.

The final step. or stage of the operation, shown completed in Fig. 4,takes place when the buoyancy of the salvage unit 15, is sufficient toraise itself and its load, whereupon the motor 49 is actuated to unwindthe cables 46, from off the drums 48, causing all to rise and finallyemerge afloat, except the ballast members 47 which remain engaged to theocean floor 54. rIhe cables 56, are detached from the salvage unit 15,and the cables 46, may now be cut and let drop, discarding the ballastor anchorage means 47, or else, the latter, may be loosened from theirhold in the sea bed 54, and the cables 46, wound up to bring saidmembers 47, up to and beneath the preliminary unit 40, which when insuch position, the motor 49, is stopped. The salvage apparatus and thevessel it holds, are now towed into drydock.

Other novel ways of conducting marine salvage operations with Variouscombinations of apparatus herein described, are as follows Utilizing anapparatus consisting of the salvage unit 15, the cables 46, togetherwith their control mechanism 48 and 49, and the anchorage means 47, weproceed by lowering the ballast members 47, to sea bottom 54, andsecurely anchoring same thereto, one such member 47, on either side ofthe vessel 20, to be raised, so that the distance between them shall beabout equal to the distance between the pulleys 50, in order that thecables causing the salvage unit 15, to be slowly urged downward until itsets over the vessel 20. The necessary remaining steps to complete theoperation, have been previously set forth.

Another combination of apparatus, may consist of the salvage unit 1:5,the cables 46, together with their control mechanism 48 and 49, and thepreliminary gripping unit 40, secured to the ends of said cables 46. Tooperate, unwind the cables 46, thereby causing the preliminary unit 40,to be lowered until it sets onto the vessel 20, and is made to gripsame. Thereupon, the cables 46, are rewound, thereby causing the sal`vage unit 15 to be slowly brought downward until it sets onto the vessel20, housing the preliminary unit 40, between its pontoon sections 21.The remaining steps to complete the raising of the vessel 2() and thesalvage apparatus, are evident from previous disclosure herein. It is tobe noted however, in this set up, the ascent will be comparativelyrapid.

A further combination of apparatus here? in described, may consist of agripping unit 40, of heavy construct-ion, the cables 46, together withtheir control mechanism 48 and 49, and a member capable of being madebouyant, similar to the salvage unit 15, except that it includes nogripping mechanism; said gripping unit 40 mentioned, be ing secured tothe ends of the cables 46. The operation of this combination ofapparatus mentioned, will be along similar lines asl ponents shown inFig. 2, except that the` gripping unit 40, be of heavy construction, andthe salvage unit 15, be minus its gripping mechanism. The method ofcarrying out the complete operation can be easily understood from matterhereinbefore set forth.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my present invention, Iclaim 1. In a salvage apparatus, in combination with a` salvage unit ofthe submergible type capable of being made buoyant and provided withgripping means; a gripping unit, comprising a frame and grippingelements secured thereto, adapted to grip the object to be raisedbetween them; connect-' ing means secured to and between the saidsalvage unit and the gripping unit, and means to alter the length of theconnecting means. l

2. In a salvage apparatus, in combination with a salvage unit of thesubmergible type capable of being made buoyant and provided withgripping means; anchorage means adapted to engage the sea bottom;connecting means secured to and between the` Cil salvage unit and theanchorage means; a gripping unit, comprising a frame and grippingelements secured thereto, adapted to grip the object to be raisedbetween them, moveably mounted on said connecting means, and means toalter the length of the connecting means.

3. In a salvage apparatus, in combination, a buoyant member capable ofbeing made non-buoyant; a gripping unit, comprising a frame and grippingelements secured thereto, adapted to grip the object to be raisedbetween them; connecting means having its ends secured to and itselfbeing between the said buoyant member and the gripping unit, and meansto alter the length of the connecting means.

4. In a salvage apparatus, in combination, a buoyant member capable ofbeing made non-buoyant; anchorage means, adapted to engage the seabottom; connecting means secured to and between the buoyant member andthe anchorage means; a gripping unit, comprising a frame member andgripping elements secured thereto, adapted to grip the object to beraised between them, moveably mounted on said connecting means, andmeans to alter the length of said connecting means.

5. In a salvage apparatus, in combination with a salvage unit of thesubmergible type capable of being made buoyant and provided withgripping means and a compartment, open at its bottom; a gripping unit,comprising a frame and gripping elements secured thereto, adapted togrip the object to be raised between them, housed movably within saidcompartment in the salvage unit; connecting means secured to and betweenthe salvage unit and the gripping unit, and means to alter the length ofthe connecting means.

6. In a salvage apparatus, in combination with a salvage unit of thesubmergible type capable of being made buoyant and provided withgripping means and a compartment, open at its bottom; anchorage meansadapted to engage the sea bottom; connecting means secured to andbetween the salvage unit and the anchorage means; a gripping unit,comprising a frame and gripping elements secured thereto adapt-ed togrip the object to be raised between them, movably mounted on saidconnecting means, and housed movably within saidYY compartment in thesalvage unit, and means to alter the length of the connecting means.

7. In a salvage apparatus, in combination, buoyant members secured inspaced relation, capable of being made non-buoyant; a gripping unit,comprising a frame and gripping elements secured thereto adapted to gripthe object to be raised between them, slidably housed between saidbuoyant members; connecting means secured to and between the saidbuoyant members and the gripping unit, and means to alter the length ofthe connecting means.

8. In a salvage apparatus, in combination, buoyant members secured inspaced relation, capable of being made non-buoyant; anchorage means,adapted to engage the sea bottom; connecting means secured to andbetween the buoyant members and the anchorage means; a gripping unit,comprising a frame member and gripping elements secured thereto, adaptedto grip the object to be raised between them, slidably housed betweensaid buoyant members, and movably mounted on said connecting means, andmeans to alter the length of said connecting means.

9. In combination with salvage apparatus of the submergible type, agauge to determine from the surface of the sea, the buoyancyrequirement-s of the salvage apparatus when submerged, comprising abuoyant member of known lifting capacity capable of being madenon-buoyant to decrease its lifting capacity by known amounts, and aconnecting means secured to and between the salvage. apparatus and saidbuoyant member; the length of said connecting means being such that thebuoyant member shall become submerged when the salvage appara-tus is atits lowest submerged position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto aix my signature.

GIUSEPPE BONTEMPI.

